Program Snapshot

Cead Mile Failte! We’re so excited that you’re preparing to study abroad on an IFSA-Butler program and have chosen Cork as your destination. Founded in 1845, University College Cork is one of the oldest universities in Ireland and offers the best of traditional scholarship and cutting-edge technology in a beautiful, friendly city. We’re sure you’re going to love studying there!

What if I need to take a required course?Please be aware that IFSA-Butler cannot guarantee that your host university will offer a particular course, or that you will be allowed to take that particular course. However, if you need to take a required course, you may indicate that it is required on your course preference form. Your IFSA-Butler program advisor will communicate your needs to your host university.

What courses am I eligible to take?As an IFSA-Butler student, you are entitled to enroll in undergraduate courses for which you are qualified and in which space is available. Course descriptions in the online course catalog (see above) include prerequisites you must fulfill in order to enroll in each course.

Course Restrictions

Are there any course or departmental restrictions?When considering departments and courses, please note the following:

English department: There is a quota on the number of modules visiting students can follow in this department. Students will be allowed to take 15 UCC modular credits for a semester and/or 25 UCC modular credits for a full year.

Psychology: Listed under “applied psychology” in the book of modules. Please read the notes at the beginning of the applied psychology section for information about course restrictions.

Music department: Students who wish to enroll in music courses must pre-register for these courses online before arriving in Ireland. Please contact your program advisor if you are interested in taking any music courses at Cork.

Science, Engineering, Music, and Food Science departments: These departments charge higher fees for courses, called tuition differentials. You will incur these fees only if all of your courses fall into these four departments. If you enroll in a course offered by a department that imposes a tuition differential fee, IFSA-Butler will send a bill to your home address once you are abroad and your enrollment is confirmed.

Certificate Courses

What are the certificate programs? University College Cork also offers four certificate programs. Three of them are available to year-long students and the fourth is available to spring semester students only. If you are interested in more information on the certificate programs please contact the program advisor.

Credits

How many courses am I able to take, and how do I determine U.S. semester credit hours? IFSA-Butler requires students to enroll in a full course load at the host institution. The number of courses you take depends on the credit value of the courses you select. One UCC credit equates to 0.5 U.S. semester credit hours. Most courses at UCC are worth 5 UCC credits. For information on the credit weight, please consult the chart below.

Registration

The course preference form is not a registration form; it is a guideline to let your host university know which courses you are interested in taking abroad. You should discuss your course selections with your academic advisor at your home institution and have several backup choices in mind. Accepted students will receive their provisional schedule shortly after an admissions decision is made. This schedule will be based on the courses listed on the course preference form.

What are the registration conditions?You must take a full University of Stirling course load as determined by IFSA-Butler. Credit will be awarded on a Butler University transcript based on a typical U.S. full course load. All courses are graded on an A-F scale, and there is no provision for pass/fail or auditing courses unless pass/fail is the only method of assessment for the course. You are not allowed to register for online, distance education or hybrid courses.

You should also be aware that you may be charged additional fees by your home institution or host university to take or process additional credits. Taking less than a full course load may jeopardize your student status and result in personal academic repercussions and/or loss of financial aid.

Exams

What do I need to know about exams?Because of the differences in the academic systems, you will not know your exam schedule until after you arrive at your host university. Please refer to your program calendar to review the exam period for your host university. Your host university's policies do not permit you to reschedule any exams, request alternate assessments or arrange to have your exams proctored in the United States. If this occurs, IFSA-Butler cannot assist you in conducting a grade query or academic follow-up for the course in which you made this arrangement. You will need to complete and submit all academic work prior to departing the program.

Transcripts

How will my home university know what my classes were and what grades I received?After you have returned to the U.S., your home university will receive a Butler University transcript with the credit you earned at University College Cork. The Butler University transcript will report the equivalent U.S. semester credit hours and letter grades. We also will send an official transcript to your permanent address.

Housing

Housing Options

What is the housing like at University College Cork? Students will be placed in UCC campus accommodation within ten minutes walk of the main campus. Each flat accommodates three to five students in single study bedrooms and is equipped with basic cooking facilities shared living area, TV, and internet access. Residents are asked to provide their own bed linen, duvet and pillow. You may wish to bring linens with you or purchase them in Cork.

Meals

Are there meal plans at University College Cork? No. All accommodation is self-catering. You will have access to kitchen facilities and supplies( pots, pans, plates, cutlery, etc.) to prepare your own meals. If you tire of cooking, you will be able to find meals in restaurants and cafes on and near campus.

Housing FAQs

Is my housing included in the program fee?Yes. Your program fee includes accommodation at the university while classes are in session. You will be responsible for the cost of your meals (whether a meal plan or self-catered) and any commuting costs you may incur. Some university housing requires students to move out during winter and spring breaks. If you wish to remain in residence during the vacation period(s), you must notify the university housing office upon arrival to make necessary arrangements. Staying in residence during university breaks may incur additional costs not covered by the IFSA-Butler program fee.

When will I receive my housing assignment?You will most likely receive your housing assignment one to two weeks before your departure. However, in some cases you may not receive your housing assignment until you arrive in Ireland for orientation. Your program advisor will notify you of your housing assignment via e-mail when it is released by the university.

Do I have to pay a housing deposit?Yes. IFSA-Butler requires a refundable housing deposit of $300 before going abroad. We will return this deposit to you after March 1 for fall programs or September 1 for spring and year programs, less any fines, damages or outstanding debts in your name.

Can I arrange my own housing? Yes. IFSA-Butler recognizes that some students require independent housing for their time abroad. If you choose not to take advantage of our guaranteed housing, you may sign up for independent housing on the housing preference form. Once you've made this choice, we will not provide housing for you or bill you for the accommodation fee.

Please be advised that housing costs can be high abroad, and many times students living independently end up spending more money than students living in IFSA-Butler arranged housing. If you are hoping to save money by arranging housing on your own, please research your options early so you can compare costs. You must notify us of your intention to live in independent housing by the program application deadline for your term abroad, listed at the top of this page. We are not able to accommodate independent housing requests after the deadline.

How will I meet people? It’s actually very easy. The best way to get to know your Irish peers is to join clubs and societies, which are the central focus of life at Irish universities. There is a wide range of clubs and societies that offer a chance to pursue any interests you might have and if you find something that you like isn’t offered, you can most likely start it yourself! This is the best way to meet fellow Irish students!

Location Info

Population: 300,000 Location: Along the southern coast of Ireland

City features

A beautiful, friendly city with hospitable and talkative residents

A busy seaport with modern industries

Treasures its rich cultural heritage, with an art gallery, opera house, three theatres and a city museum in the garden of Fitzgerald Park

Annual international jazz and choral festivals

Do more!

Kiss the legendary Blarney stone just five miles outside the city

Hike in nearby County Kerry

Explore the mountains, hills and river valleys to the north and east and the breathtaking lakes of Killarney to the west

Dates & Fees

Program Dates

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Independent travelers must arrive in their orientation city by 1 p.m. and check in with IFSA-Butler Ireland staff at the orientation hotel. More information about the orientation hotel will be included in the final travel newsletter.

Students must have a round trip ticket to enter the country. Please use the program end date when initially booking your return.

Your program end date may change due to circumstances beyond IFSA-Butler's control. Upon arrival at your host university, be sure to verify your exam schedule and program end date. We also strongly recommend that you investigate fees and penalties associated with your airline tickets in case you need to make date or route changes.

Program housing is available only until the program end date.

Exams must be taken where and when scheduled. Under no circumstances may students request that an exam time be changed. In Ireland, exams are taken under formal examination conditions and changes cannot be made for individuals.

Program Fees

Academic Year and Fall Payments Due: July 1Spring Payment Due: November 15Summer Payment Due: May 15

Program Fee BillsIFSA-Butler will send a single bill for tuition, services and housing. Any bills for tuition differentials and/or supplemental housing fees will be sent separately. Students who opt for independent housing will not be charged the housing component of the program fee.

HousingThe housing component of our program fee is based on the average cost of local student self-catering accommodation, usually a shared room in a regular dormitory, apartment or house without any extra features.

† Housing DepositThis program requires a housing deposit of $300. This payment is in addition to the program fee but is due on the same date. The deposit is held separately from the program fee and should be paid separately. The deposit is refunded to the student after the program, less any damages, fines or outstanding debts in the student’s name. Summer students do not pay the $300 housing deposit.

Personal Cost Estimates

Note for Early Start students: Be sure to budget additional Meals and Personal Miscellaneous funds for the weeks of the Early Start program. Your IFSA-Butler program advisor can help you estimate expenses if necessary.

These figures are designed to assist students with financial planning but are only estimates based on past students’ experiences at the current exchange rate. They do not include any entertainment or vacation travel costs.

The above numbers are general estimates of expenses during a program abroad. We recommend taking into account your current spending habits, the cost of living in your host country and the current exchange rate. Your IFSA-Butler program advisor can be helpful as you attempt to work on a personal budget for your experience abroad.

Commuting: Estimates are for transportation between housing and university. Transportation for personal or recreational purposes is not included in the above estimates.

* U.S. citizens do not need to apply for a visa to study in the Republic of Ireland. However, citizens of certain countries may need to do so. If this applies to you, you will be notified by your IFSA-Butler program advisor. All students, regardless of citizenship, will need to register with the Garda (Irish police) upon arrival in the Republic of Ireland. Registration will cost €300 (approximately $400).

We must receive these forms before we can send your application to Cork for an admissions decision. They can be sent to IFSA-Butler via email, fax or regular mail. Please submit these forms with the remainder of your program application.

If you have already started an application to the University College Cork program, you can check the status of your application using the Student Portal.

Meet Your IFSA-Butler Team

IFSA-Butler has a dedicated team of staff who are here to help students prepare for their program in Ireland:

Senior Program Advisor Beth Ehrsam assists with the application process and is here to answer program, cultural and academic questions before departure. Beth can be reached at the email link above or at 800-858-0229, extn. 9279. Beth has been with the Institute for Study Abroad since 2008. Beth spent her junior year studying abroad at Trinity College Dublin with IFSA-Butler and now enjoys being on the other side of the application process advising students during the application and predeparture process.

Student Accounts Coordinator Angelita Shaffer assists with the financial side of study abroad and processes payments and invoices. Angelita can be reached at the email link above or at 317-940-4221.

Student & Parent Services Manager Donnetta Spears is available to both students and parents for travel questions and information. Donnetta has worked with IFSA-Butler since 2000, and she has traveled through parts of Europe, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand. As the mother of 4 college students (including one who studied abroad on an IFSA-Butler program), she has a deep understanding of the ins-and-outs of study abroad from a parent perspective. Donnetta can be reached at the email link above or at 317-940-4252.

Once abroad, our students are in the capable hands of our on-site office in Dublin. Click here to read more about Resident Director Maria Keane.

Upon return from your study abroad program, Academic Affairs Coordinator Paige Ward processes your Butler University transcript and assists with any academic record queries. Paige graduated from Butler University, and she studied abroad for a semester in Paris, Belfast, London and the English Lake District. Studying abroad for Paige was an eye-opening and knowledge-gaining experience, and she is excited to work with students who are looking for the same. Paige can be reached at the email link above or at 800-858-0229 ext. 4254.

Photos

Early Start Option

University College Cork offers an intensive Early Start option each fall semester. The Early Start program is worth 5 U.S. semester credits, and it begins approximately four weeks before the start of the fall semester and continues through the end of the semester.

Early Start students choose one course from among six options. Click on the links below to learn more about the course options:

Internships

University College Cork offers a small number of internships to students enrolled in the university. The internship includes 40 hours of work for the semester and usually lasts one semester.

Each internship involves research appropriate to its field, and your research will culminate in an academic project. A faculty member will supervise your placement and advise you on your academic project, which most likely will be in the form of a research report.

Placements are offered by departments in the university and include:

Boole Library

Department of Government

Health Promotion Unit

Development and Alumni Office

Lewis Glucksman Gallery

School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Granary Theatre

Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights in the Faculty of Law (College of Business and Law)